Le privatizzazioni italiane: contributo a un état des lieux

An attempt to evaluate and interpret the privatization and re-organization of utilities in Italy in the light of the current economic debate. Major relevant issues are surveyed: the (partial) privatization of utilities, and the implications of residual public ownership; the introduction of competition in the relevant markets; the management of (natural monopoly) networks; the role of public regulatory agencies. A tension between the suggestions offered by normative economics and the constraints arising fom the political economy context is singled out as the main determinant of the success and continuation of privatization processes.